A project to establish a research and development (R&D) center in the city of Nurafshon will be implemented in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This was announced by Uzbekistan's Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov at the opening ceremony of ICT Week in Tashkent.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, on September 22, Minister Sherzod Shermatov held a meeting with ADB's Country Director for Uzbekistan Kanokpan Lao Araya. The meeting discussed accelerating digital transformation in Uzbekistan, developing advanced technologies and innovations, and expanding cooperation in these areas. Within the framework of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed aimed at enhancing Uzbekistan's potential in the field of advanced technologies.
Speaking at the opening of ICT Week, Sherzod Shermatov announced the signing of a memorandum with ADB on the implementation of the "Future Technologies Center" project and the establishment of a joint research and development (R&D) center in Nurafshon. "Yesterday we signed a memorandum with ADB on the implementation of the 'Future Technologies Center' project. At the very beginning of our work, we tried to present Uzbekistan as an outsourcing center. And we have already implemented the first billion-dollar IT services outsourcing. Now we need to enhance the potential of our universities and research institutes," he said. "Together with ADB, we want to establish a research (R&D) and technology center in Nurafshon. I thank ADB for supporting this important project."
IT Park Uzbekistan's plan to establish a research and development (R&D) center in Nurafshon was presented to the president in early May. It was reported that the center is planned to be located on 7.3 hectares: the project includes six high-tech laboratories, a computing center with 200 GPUs, a startup campus, and a commercialization center. The total cost of the project is estimated at $200 million, with implementation planned for 2027-2031.
According to ADB, the UPGRADE (Unleashing Potential for Growth through Research and Advanced Digital Technology Excellence) project aims to accelerate Uzbekistan's transition to a knowledge-based economy with a leading private sector through digital transformation, commercialization of innovations, and deep technological innovation. The project is expected to achieve the following results: The project will finance the construction and equipping of the Digital Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Research and Business Center (DARC) managed by IT Park, which will serve as the backbone of Uzbekistan's high-tech cluster. DARC will become part of a broader innovation cluster — the Future Technologies Center planned by the government, aimed at turning Nurafshon into a national center for artificial intelligence, digitalization, research, and high technologies.
According to ADB, the center will consist of four parts. The first is the Modular AI Computing Center (MACC). MACC is a general, energy-efficient (low-power, below 400 kilowatts) AI computing facility equipped with about 200 high-performance GPUs and serving relevant universities, startups, researchers, and laboratories: providing them with GPU and private cloud capacity. In addition, the center's modular hardware will be updated every 3 years, and decommissioned equipment will be transferred to regional universities. The second is 6 high-tech laboratories. These laboratories will serve for industrial development, testing, and certification of AI applications, devices, and technologies focused on agriculture, healthcare, finance, and cybersecurity. The third is a commercialization center. The center provides advice on product-market fit and market entry, guidance on intellectual property and regulation. It also supports international certification and product testing services. The fourth is an open innovation and startup campus accommodating up to 50 startups along with 10 corporate open innovation offices.
The project is currently in the preparation stage, with contractor selection planned for the first quarter of 2027. It is noteworthy that the bank's website does not specify the project cost. In July, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Cyber University in Nurafshon and launched the construction of the Future Technologies Center next to the university. The construction of this center, with an area of 36 hectares, will attract about $500 million in investments. It is planned to become a unified innovation ecosystem combining education, scientific research, technological testing, and production processes. The center will host 6 laboratories in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and cryptography. Additionally, an AI data center, an engineering cluster, production of secure computers, data transmission equipment, and high-tech tokens will be established here. Furthermore, a special testing ground for unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics will be organized.
With the support of the Asian Development Bank, a platform will be created for the commercialization of local technologies and bringing national products to international markets. To provide projects with stable electricity, 5 megawatts of energy capacity will be built. It is also planned to attract leading global companies, universities, and scientists, and create modern social, cultural, and household infrastructure for students and staff. Within the project, it is expected to create more than 5,000 highly qualified jobs. It was also noted that the center will give a significant boost to the development of the region's digital economy.
Source: www.gazeta.uz